Hard work pays off, or I'm a stinking snob

Snob
noun
1.
a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others.
2.
a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other
opinions or have different tastes regarding this field:
a musical snob.

Are you condescending and overbearing to others? Are you slavishly cultivating and admiring of social superiors? Do you think you are better than
"those people" in coach?

I don't think you come off that way. Not as being a "snob."

Sometimes hard work and sacrifice do pay off, but there is also luck, opportunity, networking, etc. that can play into success - luck that other's are
not as fortunate to have, even if they work just as hard, make just as many sacrifices and have just as many dreams and goals and just as much
personal discipline, etc.

I find gratitude is the best attitude, and acknowledging that things could have gone another way while celebrating what is, is a pretty healthy way to
live. It could have been a rough life, no? And things might get more challenging in the future... So cheers to the good times and good things and
good people you have in your life. You are both hard working and blessed.

No one can see the sacrifices I and my wife made, to get me here.
Isn't that the way it is, though?

I understand the sacrifices needed. It is great that you found a partner who understands, as well, and had the same desires and drive (?) that you did
coming up. Glad you are good to the workers.
I find resentment from others just in where I work at times. I have the permission to work from home as I wish (which I don't abuse) and that is often
2 or 3 times a month but, my duties (most days) only require a laptop and internet connection. Occasionally, someone will say 'it must be nice'. Well,
it can be but, it is still 'work' and I must still 'produce'.
I've been with the company almost 8 years and have earned nearly 6 weeks of vacation/personal time per year. I earned that and one day when I am
finished with this position, someone else can have it.

Everyone just looks at the moment. No one looks at the moments that lead up to it.

Also, I think we can be guilty of this when the circumstances aren't for the good. If someone seems down and out or homeless or not doing very well
financially. Sometimes folks assume they are shiftless or lazy and that is why they aren't doing so well ($) in life. We don't see what led up to
their current situation, perhaps.

Until last year, we lived in a 6 bedroom 4 bath home lakefront home. Certain planetary alignments occurred and I'm certain the I angered a few Gods
and everything changed. I have learned the invaluable lesson of planning for the worst. I thought I had made every/smart plan but, I didn't plan for
the worst worst. If that makes any sense. I simply must work harder now than before and slow down and make better choices. Of course, no one
can plan completely for illnesses but, I certainly could have saved more money along the way.

You seem like a reasonable, caring individual and I could be nothing but happy for a fellow human who is doing well and living comfortably. Living the
dream, so to speak. Just remember to plan...and save...don't count on youth. It can give one a false sense of security and shatter everything.

You're not sitting there rubbing that success in anyone's face while sneering at the peons earning less, are you? Then you don't fit the definition of
snob, entitled dick, etc. If you don't forget about the climb it took, and don't start looking down from a pedestal, you'll always be
well-grounded.

I was talking to a man who was doing well in life and he told me, somewhat bitterly, that people tended to remark on how lucky he was.

He used to respond with 'the harder I work, the luckier I get'.

Speaking for myself, I don't think anyone needs to explain themselves to others. Everyone has their own set of values and lives according to their
taste and means. If you're not hurting anyone, why not enjoy and live your life in your own way?

I feel exactly 0 guilt for getting paid very well which allows me to live life the way I want.

When people try and say "if you make over $150k or whatever that you are just an entitled sob" I just laugh because much like the OP said what they
dont realize is the 20 year career and sacrifice that went into getting to this point.

I was at an industry trade show 2 years ago where the closing keynote speaker was Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs and he said something that is 100%
true...essentially it went like this "people say dont work harder, work smarter. I disagree. If you want to really succeed in whatever job you choose
you need to work both harder and smarter then anyone else."

I have no advice to give people other then to stay at it, do something you enjoy but also something that is financially viable and the sooner people
realize that life-friends-a company or the world owe you nothing the better off you will be.

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